Prep notebook: Oubre qualifies for state golf tournament

DAPHNE -- Gabi Oubre had a year to think about missing a state title by two strokes. Now she's going back for another chance.

The Cottage Hill Christian sophomore fired a 7-under-par 65 to medal at the 1A-5A South sub-state tournament Wednesday at TimberCreek to qualify as an individual for next week's state tournament.

"I felt really good and relaxed," said Oubre, who begins play at the state competition Monday at Huntsville's Hampton Cove. "I try not to worry about the score too much and just try to go out there, play well, par each hole and try to stay focused."

Oubre did better than just par. She finished with seven birdies and eagled No. 11 on the way to expanding a one-shot lead to a five-stroke advantage over 2008 state champion Caroline Beebe of Bayside Academy.

"I like the course. The greens were rolling really good," Oubre said. "I had a lot of wedges in, which really helped."

Hartselle (247) won the team title over Bayside (272), which also qualified for the state tournament. Beebe finished third with a 78.

Faith Academy and Spanish Fort tied for third (279), and the Rams won a playoff to claim the final qualification spot.

Gulf Shores' Kalyn Hudson shot a 77 to finish second and qualify as an individual. Northside's Rebecca Chandler (83) also qualified as an individual.

Cottage Hill Christian's Adam Spiller qualified for the 3A state tournament as an individual, placing third overall with a 74 at Arrowhead CC in Montgomery.

BUBALO SIGNS WITH ESCC: Spanish Fort's Max Bubalo has signed to play basketball for Enterprise State. Bubalo scored 1,286 points during his career and averaged 14.5 points last season. He becomes part of the first recruiting class for second-year ESCC coach Wesley Person.

MURPHY ATHLETES SIGN: Six Murphy High athletes signed to play college athletics Wednesday.

Jennifer Youngpeter, a three-year starter, signed an academic scholarship with Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and will major in pre-medicine and play volleyball. Track stars Amiracle Watson and Alexendria Montgomery, members of the Panthers' 6A state champion 4x100-meter relay team, signed with Troy and Stillman College, respectively.

Baseball players Austin York, Bryan Sims and Matt Cooper -- all three-year starters -- also signed. York, a shortstop who hit .389, signed with Taylor (Ind.) University. Sims, a second baseman who hit .404, signed with Spring Hill College. Cooper, who hit .345 with 46 RBIs, signed with Faulkner State Community College.

-- Arthur Mack

CRANE SIGNS WITH WALLACE: Citronelle senior Andrew Crane has signed to play baseball at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia. Crane, who pitched and caught, hit .497 as a senior with 39 RBIs and struck out only three times in 77 at-bats. He also had a 2.56 ERA.

SHAW TO UAB: Former LeFlore basketball star Jocelyn Shaw is leaving the Alabama basketball program and plans to transfer to UAB, where she will be eligible to compete beginning in 2011-12. She will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Shaw spent one season with the Crimson Tide, appearing in three games. She helped LeFlore to the Class 5A state championship as a senior and was named the 5A Alabama MVP after averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds a game.

SHOEMAKER HELPS BAYSIDE SET RECORD: Bayside Academy's Stewart Shoemaker was part of the Admirals' 4x400-meter relay team that set a Class 3A state-meet record of 3:26.05 last weekend. Thomas Buchanan was a late scratch from the event and Shoemaker was a last-minute replacement. Other members of the record-breaking team are Joby Allen, Scooter Blake and Camp Campbell.